Remembering Gloria Steinem's Jewish identity, experiences

Gloria Steinem, a pivotal figure in Second Wave feminism and co-founder of Ms. magazine, died at 92. While widely recognized for her activism and writings, her Jewish heritage was less known. Her father, Leo Steinem, was Jewish, and she later connected with her Jewish identity through relationships with Ms. magazine co-founders and participation in feminist Seders. Steinem famously stated, "Never in my life have I identified myself as a Christian, but whenever there is antisemitism, I identify as a Jew." She also discovered her paternal grandmother, Pauline Steinem, was a notable suffragist who rescued family members from the Nazis, a revelation that deeply connected her to her Jewishness. Steinem participated in feminist Passover Seders for over two decades, which focused on elevating biblical women and applying lessons to contemporary women's struggles. She expressed being "socially drawn to Jewish warmth, sensuality, expressiveness."